Oliver North coming to C of O to dedicate veterans memorial

Sydni Cloutier, senior at School of the Ozarks, works on the official Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is being designed and built by College of the Ozarks staff and students and will be dedicated April 22. Students from School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school of College of the Ozarks, helped to finish out the landscaping efforts and cleaned the features of the memorial, including the granite wall with names of 1,410 fallen Missouri servicemen and women and the bronze statue of the Vietnam Veterans.(Photo: College of the Ozarks)

Students and staff at the College of the Ozarks have been constructing the Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial and work is wrapping up.

The structure will honor the more than 1,400 military men and women from Missouri who died during the Vietnam War. It will be dedicated April 22 and the public is welcome to attend.

"We are honored to build this memorial on our campus," said College of the Ozarks President Jerry Davis, in a news release. "The fallen and their families, along with the Vietnam Veterans, deserve a proper thank you. We hope family members and those in communities across the state will join us for this sacred occasion."

Former U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col Oliver North will speak at the ceremony, which starts at 2:30 p.m. on the Point Lookout campus. North is host of the documentary series "War Stories with Oliver North" on FOX. He has previously served as a convocation speaker at the College of the Ozarks.

The memorial — including two walls of names and a statue of Vietnam veterans — was designed by Austin Meyer, a 2014 College of the Ozarks graduate.

According to a news release, the dedication ceremony will begin with the music of a single bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace."

Walls containing the names of Missouri military members who died during the Vietnam War will be unveiled, names will be read, and wreaths will be placed. A 21-gun salute will follow.

While the names of those who died were provided by the National Archives, the college wants to honor families who lost a loved one during the war. To share that information with the college, call 417-690-2212.

Alumnus and Vietnam veteran General Terrence R. Dake will address those gathered.

"Kindergarteners from the S. Truett Cathy Lower School will place roses in front of the statue of Vietnam Veterans to commemorate the living," said Dean of Character Education Sue Head, in a release. "We want our younger students to understand the service and sacrifice of those who went to Vietnam."

A reception following the ceremony will be at the Keeter Center on campus.